While the growing age continues to stoke concern for hundreds of Tibetans, the aging Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso appears to be in no hurry to decide upon his reincarnation. Naresh Kumar reports.

While the growing age continues to stoke concern for hundreds of Tibetans, the aging Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso appears to be in no hurry to decide upon his reincarnation.

Putting all the speculations about his reincarnation into rest Tibetan spiritual leader on Saturday said that decision on his reincarnation would be taken when he reach the age of 90.

“When I am about 90, I will consult the high lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other people concerned who follow Tibetan Buddhism, and re-evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not,” says a statement issued by the Dalai Lama.

The former Tibetan prime minister, Samdhong Rinpoche, made the statement public.

Maintaining that no recognition or acceptance would be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone including China the Dalai Lama said reincarnation was a phenomenon which should take place either take place either through voluntary choice of the concerned person or at least on the strength of his or her karma, merit and prayers.

"The person who reincarnates has sole legitimate authority over where and how he or she takes rebirth and how that reincarnation is to be recognized.

Lashing out at Chinese communist regime for its interference in the religious matters of Tibet the Dalai Lama said it was inappropriate for Chinese communist, who explicitly reject ever the idea of past and future life, let alone the concept of reincarnation Tulkus, to meddle in the system of reincarnation and especially the reincarnation of the Dalai Lamas and Panceh Lamas.

"If it is decided that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should continue and there is a need for the Fifteenth Dalai Lama to be recognized, responsibility for doing so will primarily rest on the concerned officers of the Dalai Lama's Gaden Phodrang Trust," the Dalai Lama said.

"I shall leave clear written instructions about this. Bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China," reads the statement.

Meanwhile addressing the press, Samdhong Rinpoche said, as the Dalai Lama had said to put ultra motive plans by the PRC authorities His Holiness has issued a very comprehensive and exhausted declarations and direction.

"After a certain period time he will again consult the religious heads and people whether Dalai Lama should continue or not and if it will be decided that the Dalai Lama institution should continue then how and who will do the necessary work for searching and recognition of the next Dalai Lama," said Rinpoche.

The issue of reincarnation of the Dalai Lama was dicussed in the three- day long conference of the heads and representatives of all the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon relegion.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso- world face of the Tibetan freedom struggle who reached 77 this July had fled his homeland Tibet after the Chinese troops marched into Lhasa in 1959.

There is a growing fear that Tibetan movement would be impacted adversely after his death.